With songs written by Grammy-nominated producer Eric Brace and D.C. songwriting hero Karl Straub, Hangtown Dancehall tells the story of a young couple who make their way to the California gold fields in the 1850s.

Released on Nashville-based Red Beet Records, Hangtown Dancehall has been getting some spectacular reviews:

“An artistic success...a bold concept and a fine piece of music and storytelling,” said Martin Chilton of The Telegraph UK.

“Muscular and tuneful,” said Tim Rice, lyricist of Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, and The Lion King. (yes, he really did say that about Hangtown)

"Ought to be a country classic. Brace, Straub, and company have pulled it off with tremendous aplomb," said Lee Zimmerman in Country Standard Time.

There have been many more, but you get the idea. It’s really good.

While some of you know Eric as a former writer for The Washington Post and frontman of the acclaimed roots rock band Last Train Home (winner of numerous Wammie Awards from the Washington Area Music Association), you might not know he was born in Placerville, California, the very heart of Gold Rush country. Growing up there, he learned the folk song “Sweet Betsy From Pike,” whose 15 verses describe Betsy and Ike’s adventures as they head west. In that song’s final verse the couple breaks up as soon as they get to Hangtown, aka Placerville. To Eric, that seemed a little abrupt, them splitting up after walking 2,000 miles together, so he and Karl decided to tell the rest of the tale. Hangtown Dancehall is Eric and Karl's continuing story of Betsy and Ike.

If you’d like to get yourself a copy of Hangtown Dancehall before Oct. 3, you can find copies for sale at Washington’s wonderful Politics & Prose bookstore, or you can order it online at www.hangtowndancehall.com.